It is unfair for Rob Chapman to say that women are put off careers in IT because of the misconception that the work is highly complex and only suitable for geeks (Why firms must combat female aversion to IT, 16 June).

Although the number of women opting to study IT at university has fallen over the years, this is by no means an indication that they are put off by highly complex jobs. In fact, girls academically outperform their male peers, year on year.

To attract more women into IT, we need to focus on the positives: there is actually the potential for tremendous career progression within IT. Women are more inclined to focus on getting the job done, rather than on talking about what they have done, and there are few places where delivery - or lack of delivery - is brought so sharply into focus as IT.

Also, the female brain-drain will only continue unless the industry works harder to implement a practical work-life balance. Employers have to break out of the traditional employment model and recognise that they are truly better off having a committed and effective employee who works 25 hours a week rather than a passenger who does 40.

Sandra Smith, head of information systems, Toshiba UK